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Info about Illumini Event 2008
Artists for Illumini Event 2008
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Info for Illumini Event 2008

An electrifying art exhibition with a difference, it started with an grand opening night, which was complimented with a full evening of free entertainment, fire performers, jugglers, stilt walkers and light shows with all artists, working with illumination taking place throughout the crypt and its grounds. Illumini will not just showcase art it will entertain, introducing all communities that may not normally visit the arts to a different approach.

Illumini brings together a variety of artists, all sharing a passion for the subject of light. Set in the famous St Pancras crypt, these impressive pieces of artwork come to life in this desolate and unsettling environment. Come along to experience the illuminatory and dazzling effect this diverse collection of artwork has on the crypt’s dark environment.

Travel down abandoned corridors and venture into secret recesses to explore a wide variety of artwork. The pieces range from photographs and paintings depicting light, to sculptural works that literally glow; at once transforming the crypt’s murky and shadowy atmosphere like never before.

The grand opening night of the first Illumini event attracted over 3,000 people, with queues snaking around the church and along the Euston Road. The atmosphere was electrifying, children interacting with the performers, visitors got into the spirit of the event by using the glow sticks as their own media to create works of art both on their person or a work of art in one of the many hidden spaces within the crypt.

The exhibition continued on to the 17th September and attracted 7,145 visitors in all. The response from people was amazing and they continually enquired about the possibility of a next event. Many returned again and again finding something new each time. Visitors were from a broad range of backgrounds, from commuters working or travelling through the area, to local people who live in the borough and even people travelled from as far as Devon, Cornwall, Wales and the North of England. We even had visitors from as far afield as Europe and the USA. Families found this a great opportunity to visit the arts and introduce their children to it.

Illumini 2008 was a huge success and had done exactly what it was intended to do, introduce people to the arts who had never been before, many of them commenting how they did not realise art could be so much fun and so interesting.

Artists for Illumini Event 2008

Comments left by Guests for Illumini Event 2008

I have never been to an exhibition before, where I have loved all the work! Su xxx

Wow my 1st art event this was brilliant

Awesome exhib very unusual

It was very very fun. thank you Elliot age 10

Really brilliant best thing this year. Jill from Wales

My 2nd visit and just gets better. Rob x

Great lighting loved the heart beat. Charlie’s Angels

Sorry we missed the opening night , we couldnt get in. Such crowds! Came back to see so glad we did . Well done never seen crowds at an art exhibition

wow a exhibition were the kids have as much fun as the adults, thanks for the free glow sticks will amuse them for hours
Keep on enlighting us. Mark

I like the plugs. Sue age 6

Well Done Andrea! loved all the art work. Kan

Came to the opening night on Thursday, was so impressed we returned today (fri), to have a closer look at the exhibits. Most interesting. There is plenty of talent around.

Interesting it’s made me see the light, it’s totally sensoring. I like the smell and sounds

A most stunning exhibition original and professional thank you

Lloyd’s chairs great effect, Altuna, glass beautiful, Chalkley candles fantastic idea. I have bought one, so proud to have a piece of your art in my home.Thanks

Thanks for finally getting my sons imagination fired up.

Fanatastic venue. well done Liz Murfit

Great idea could really get excited for more> Willi New Zealand

That’s what I call art!

Jane you will over take Damien

I want more! when is the next event Jane

ms Boyd’s work loved it

Thank you so much, fantastic location and superbly curated

Our first date, we have really got to know each other by chatting about the art here and really enjoyed it. I have never been to see anything like this before .Thank you Illumini

Didn’t realise art could be so cool! thanks

Electric show Well Done.

Brings whole new meaning to light entertainment . Brilliant. thanks

Really unexpectedly fabulous. From Cape Town! SA

A Great exhibition and wonderful to see New Talent

Excellent loved it

Great loved Cyber city by Jane Webb

Good job Matt

Loved it especially the photos at the beginning Lewis, would love to know the effects and how it was created. Great afternoon activity.

Light brings so many emotions

Great use of the venue

Fantastic work

so different, such imagination and hard work ace.

Music appropriate depicting heart beat by representing life and death/ / artist reflecting light & darkness. Project worked together.

Madi Boyds installations were mesmerising. Fabulous exhibition.

Was not sure what i was queuing for, glad i did this is amazing, didnt realise art covered so many things. thanks

How did one person create such a huge success well done xx

Simply Beautiful

Thanks and love and very best wishes to Suzan Swale .Chris

Illumini really did light up my life

Great job well done. jules glastonbury

A beautiful show, very well planned to make the best use of this fantastic space. Great work on show Congratulations

Thank you gods/or beings born in this city in which there are so many imaginative things to see or do. I am here with very little artistic ability but I do enjoy seeing what others can create.

Brilliant in every sense Chris

Great exposition… met Jane Webb its an honor!

What a lovely warm welcome when you enter the crypt from the artists.

Interesting & thought provoking Liz Murfitt, navarro and Webb all excellent

Wow Jane Webb is cool

Amazing!! more !!

Madi Boyd’s work is stunning

This is a extraordinary exhibition never seen anything like it, heart beat installation was my fav

Great show loved it. Thanks Jenny

Excellent

Beautiful all round especially light work and lewis’s stunning pics

Very nice knickers indeed

Glad we found you

A creepy Christmas crypt

Enspena expoticion muy sugerente!

Im enlightened and mystified… you think that’s air your breathing?!?!

Excellent show! schumi Canada

Found it very inspirational as an art student, great location and atmosphere

Beautiful, what an amazing surprise!

The best things in life are free. this show rocks

Cyborgs were so cool

More , More , More !

Very interesting I was nicely surprised.

Really Cool

Inspiring and thought provoking

The heart beat piece did it for me

reminds me of the 80’s in the best possible way

travelled from cornwall to see this well worth it excellent

Great curating Ms Webb wonderful ideas hope to see illumini 2 when it happens

Amazing space, lots of interesting pieces, so many I cant decide which is my favourite! Look forward to discovering more more about your work! Great atmosphere too.

I felt my heart beat faster thank you so much

Better than cyberdog well done Jane Webb

Really good coming back again

loved it

Saw the poster on the bus came and checked it out. keep it going! Its great the things you can find in London Thank you not normally into art but this was great

Brilliant Madi

We love Mr Plug

Thnnks excellent when is the next one?

Some good ideas being developed here, liked the ambience of the crypt and particularly liked the technology cybernetic pieces.

Electrifying enlightening labyrinths where the past, present & future commune with the dead. Fabulous

Unique & fantastic cant wait to see what else the curator does

Humanoid loved them thanks x

No lies this was the best

My children loved it thanks so much and free

Really great ideas Well done ! Mark North Wales

what a fantastic show! Do more in dark places! great venue.

opening night what an atmosphere never seen a crypt so alive !, well done

Awsome

Great exhibition plugs were my favourite. Jane Webb & Matthew Swift great work

Thank you very much for a very educating lesson. Poland

Outstanding

Great stuff and perfect response to the location. Thanks !

Really liked the show fantastic location.

Lovely exhibition thanks. Auigah

The plugs rock!

Just wonderful to see such lovely work. Katy

Very good show highly recommended. Andre

Very interesting wonderful use of the space and light excellent job

Very Interesting !!

Its creepy in here but im loving it.

Very intense John

wonderful exhibition in a truly unique location, this whats makes London’s many down sides worth while jenni x

Brilliant and illuminating. As an 83 yr old feminist woman. so many woman in the show how come? interesting congratulations amazing Yvonne

Delightful wonderful atmosphere innovative exhibition Marilyn Canada

Andrea just wanted to touch it, it’s great Elms x

Two folks very much enjoying what you all done

Refreshing great ideas hat off to the curator

Keep up the good work cant wait to see what you do next

Thanks very illuminating

Please do lots more!

thrilling!

Thank you was great

This is my 2nd visit . just as impressed as the last time. A very sensitive response to the nature of the space. Wonderful show

Beaucoup d’imagination, le jeu de construction des lumieres et leurs disposition est bluffant!!! superbe exposition! Bonne chance pour la suite

Come on baby light my fire

Found this visit inspiring may your creativity continue to amaze us

Fabulous

Works really well as a collection and each piece is also good enough to stand alone. You should do this again please

Thank you for brighten up my day x

Brilliant in every sense

the exhibition was nice

Wow more please

What a great idea

Love Jane webb’s Cyber City

fascinating use of the dark,damp cavemans space full of tricks of the light

unbelievevably amazing

Enjoyed your show well done Chelle

Very unusual especially liked Andrea Tyrimos art work x

Katie needs a wee but loved the bright lights and colours

spooky eerie but fascinating. I don’t think I was alone! Rupert

I loved it thank you

Beautiful use of the space, Jane has arranged.

Andrea Thank you for letting me touch- love yer work ! C u in Oct Caureen

An ‘enlighting’ exhibition in the perfect venue! Emma

Burning man forever

Ive just bought three lightbulbs for 99p in Robert Dyes. See the recurring theme…….

Very interesting! Very magical! Very LIGHT fantastic! Sponge Bob rules

Constant Heart Beat

Back to black is amazing cant’ believe its a painting what an artist.

Get off my lawn

Super!!

Great lights me up

A trip to fantastic! AMAZING!

Brilliant James 12

A great exhibition in an amazing venue- brightened my day! more exhibitions please

step into the light Amy

Loved it especially the Cyber City!!

lots of different and stuff age 14

Are there dead bodies in here?

Thank I like this lights

Good work playing with light- Norbert

Creepy but Beautiful.

Very illuminating. Nick and Flo

2nd visit. I loved all the exhibits

Very interesting and exciting

Art comes in many forms .

Great show works really well

Illuminating wondrous x

Exceptionally enlighting! fantastic

Lots to see worth another visit, very stimulating. Thanks!

Interesting work well set, with the unexpected occurring thanks

Fantastic atmospheric. Well done !

Cant help being creeped out by tombstones and the heart beat installation very interesting exhibition though

Thanks Caroline – came to your studios and enjoyed. Absolutely amazing

Interesting work great space well done

we loved Madis wires and the photogram’s. unnerved by the heart beat installation ha ha

we really enjoyed the show please keep in touch with more events.

Fantastic

very good show liked it a lot Justin

Amazing thanks

Loved the atmospheric embodied

Very unusual and most interesting

v interesting thank you so much

Dave Brixham Very good work, interesting, stimulating and a great use of the space

Thank you Madi

Positive uplifting beautiful, Loved it Thanks

Very cool indeed thank you

Its amazing what light can do

strings were amazing

Great the place has such a mysterious feeling

This was great and very atmospheric

What a lovely surprise wonderful pieces of work

Great success, great talent . well done to you all!

Really interesting, very good location

Great setting

Thank you robin & Chacha

Beautiful exhibition

Harp light is great

Amazing exhibit loads of inspiration! Crystal

Exquisite thanks

Totally mind blowing

I love the cyber work really inspiring

Really cool beats any white wall gallery

Love the work Jane. Emma x

Liz I love you like brother. T

Fab stimulating show- brilliant

Ill never again look at/ think about light like before! Thanks

I am enlighted

Excellent inspiring! Thank you

Thank you for a lovely time robin age 7

Thanks everything glows wicked Billy age 11

Thanks for an unusual setting free from the oppressive white walls of galleries . x

very uplifting thank you

Thanks great show Janet ball

Light Fantastic A great place to have it !

Very illuminating

Bravo Adrian

Atmospheric setting for a very inspiring exhibition. Thank You

Awsome Madi work interesting

Jane Webb you are fantastic

It lit my mind

Inspiring

Love the Plug sockets

Und forma disinta de ver las cosas Thanks very good

Fantastic location to showcase fantastic exhbits

deep

Jane Webb is the best

Great show thanks very much where would we be without the LED .DJ wheelie bag

What a brilliant exhibition & wonderful space . Would love all this stuff in my house

I like the tombstone lit up

enlightening

great show well done

Best Trip ever

Im totally impressed. I might come back again tomorrow. When im rich ill commission Jane Webb

great location for it its beautiful Sarah

Most illuminating HH from Oz

Glad we came

Great Pear of pants

Nice Knickers

Tony and Tracy think its brill a good start to our day!

Interested if there is a darker side

I love it just like sambuca shotsx

Great location Simon especially loved it, his inspired him to be an electrician

Kool

One of the best exhibitions I have been to in ages well done! Rich

Thought provoking and inspiring good combination of church & art kind of gothic! A london Treasure

meditative

so cool!

What a great birthday outing Thanks to my girlfriend nice light show let there be light

Brilliant ideas

io sol invictus!

Fascinating

Awesome will pop back again great Rick

Thanks for putting on a great free event

Refreshing

illuminating superb

Madi Boyd great stuff

Good Show

Excellent curating

Well done

Beautiful! louisa

Great exhibition in a amazing venue. Very friendly artists and curator a pleasure to meet

Totally brilliant Totally different totally connected totally atmospheric totally electric. Bloody Brill Jane – want more!

Fantastic venue fantastic pieces x

Happy birthday to me 60 today

The harp light is my favourite

Andrea Tyrimos Really cool! Such precision

Bright Idea Jane well done

Great setting for a great show more please.

The Lewis Hayward photos were gorgeous Geri Hayward

Clever woman who is Jane Webb?

Very inspiring shiz

Made me think Lovely art work wish I was this creative

Interesting venue for exhibition enjoyed especially mirrored light pictures and wire work

Great use of the space like a magical underworld

A pleasant way to spend a Saturday thanks

Very Nice you should do it again some where

Happy birthday Aiden 8.9.08

Happy birthday to me 10 today

Unique sculptures in an equally unique setting Keith

Me and Danny are inspired

Fantastic place and exhibition

Futuristic sculptures are great!

Fabulous show

Thank you

Like the heart beat

Came to see the welcome exhibition found this on the way home so much better coming back next week again

Wow

Fantastic coming back again

Ben & Rsalyn you’re late

Rose revisiting after the preview night, amazing exhibits, fascinating talking to the curator and definitely so inspiring in this environment. Good luck with future projects. I will look up the details

I loved thank you

Cool Venue for Cool work

Such diverse creations! V cool thank you

Love the plugs

I dream a night in which it seemed Id dreamed a light within my sight. Perhaps a brighter later

Wonderful use of a wonderful space

Kick ass cool

questa cosa mi e piaciuta moltofrancese

It was fanatstic Eveanor aged 8

Fantastic loved it

amazing exhibition

The heartbeat is the most imaginative and site piece

tolle atmospheri!

Intriguing makes one think

Im glad i came with my mummy! stefan aged 32

Absolutely brilliant!

Especially enjoyed enemy deception

Sparky

It scared my girlfriend shitless !

Very interesting

lovely venue

mn grand bravo! a tow us criateues illuminines!

I liked the xrays of fruit and lasers

Great fun

Very cool thank you

Thank you excellent

very spooky light

Great lighting on tombstones

This has brightened up a very bad day for me

Madi Boyd cool

Very cool and original

What about the dead?

Love the heart beat bought the tunnels alive x

de-light-ful

We loved Vincenzo

Wicked venue, brilliant expo in particular the plugs

Great show great curating great ideas great gallery and a friendly greeting at the door!

Vincenzo Di Marie’s piece is the ultimate piece de reistance bellissimo

Excellent use of this space

Speechless

Good opportunity to view some innovative ideas and products are that affordable

Plug me in baby vincis work rules

Madis work was fabulous

All hail the kings of sparkle.

Very cool exhbit

Liz Murfitt great to see your work here Betty and David

That was a very fun time for a birthday treat for Roger x

oooooh concepival!

Press for Illumini Event 2008

Illumini attracted a large amount of press this is just a couple of the articles, written about illumini

Illumini: out of darkness, light 30/08/2008

A musty crypt proves the inspired setting for an exhibition about illumination, says Ruby Russell Wander round the back of St Pancras New Church on London’s Euston Road and an entrance guarded by an imposing row of columns will lead you down into the cool, dark interior of the crypt. Musty stone tunnels give way to dark alcoves stacked with gravestones and end in boards, behind which the crypt retains its original purpose.A new chapter began in the crypt’s history in 2002 when it was noticed by a group of young artists looking for an unusual venue to exhibit in. Word spread and the crypt is now almost continuously occupied by one independent show after another.For Jane Webb, an artist fascinated by light, the crypt had an instant appeal. “It’s very atmospheric,” she says. “It gave me the idea of giving artists from all different backgrounds the chance to come together and create an event where we not only exhibit but entertain.” In the show that developed, 13 artists will transform the space with works that use light as their inspiration or medium.

The opening night will have a festival atmosphere; fire performers and stilt walkers will entertain an audience that Webb hopes will encompass families and those who might feel excluded or simply bored by a more conventional gallery.The artists’ use of light ranges from visual jokes like light bulb-shaped candles and illuminated plugs, to Liz Murfitt’s photograms that use light in a painterly way on photosensitive canvas, updating a process used by Man Ray.

Madi Boyd has created an installation constructed as a grid of threads across intersecting planes, illuminated by projected film. It creates a kind of optical illusion where it becomes difficult to judge what is solid and what is light, or to gauge the physical dimensions of the piece itself. I’m trying to work in quite a scientific way to see the limits of perception, to see how you can fool the brain,” Boyd explains. “Thatled me into an enquiry into the connection between seeing and knowing and the ambiguity of perception.”The crypt is a perfect space for my work because, on a physical level, I’m trying to sculpt light. For me, a blank canvas is a pitch-darkroom.” Artists like Boyd draw our attention to the process of looking at the world.

The show also acts on our primal attraction to bright lights, whether mimicking the tricks of advertising in the case of Suzan Swale’s Nauman-esque neon slogan, Tell Me No More Lies, oras in Jayne Lloyd’s sculptures, by making references to the connection between light and domesticity. Lloyd’s chair-like structures are internally lit and covered with painted paper like Chinese lanterns. The light extends the forms with a warm, inviting glow, while the paper excludes any physical interaction with the piece, raising more complex ideas of belonging and place.

Some of the most accessible works on display will be sculptures by Webb. She creates figurative forms embedded with recycled electronic components and flashing LEDs, inspired by our increasing reliance on technology. The unique setting of the crypt will give her cyborgs of an imagined future a chance to commune with the ghosts of London’s past.’Illumini’ is at The Crypt, St Pancras Church, London NW1 from Thurs. Info: www.illuminievent.co.uk

The Review – FEATURE
Published: 4 September 2008

New reverence for technology

THE Cyborg sculptures looming eerily in the cool dark alcoves of St Pancras Crypt from today (Thursday) could symbolise a carcass, an idol or perhaps a prophecy.

Jane Webb is known in the art world for her stained glass wall panels and light features made from mirror but her primary fascination, is with the influence of prosthetics and cybernetics on the modern psyche.
Using bits of old circuit boards and scrap computer to create bright and beautiful sculptures she aims to highlight how our reverence for technological tools affects the way we see ourselves.

Webb said: “These days with our accessories and gadgets we are all very much starting to look like mechanical beings, robots and sci-fi phenomena. It’s worrying how far it might go.”

The opening night at the St Pancras Parish Church in Euston Road, Bloomsbury, should be a packed out affair with outdoor fire shows, jugglers and stilt-walkers.

Everyone is welcome said Webb.
“It’s completely an open affair and free to everybody.
“The whole point of the show was to get a mix of all kinds of different people come and enjoy the work. When exhibitions open up they hold a private viewing just for the elite which I think is very off-putting for ordinary people.”

She said: “I think art should be seen and free and accessible to everyone. It’s a distraction from the daily grind – a way to relax.” She has found artists at all stages of their careers from students to professionals and even people that have no experience in the field.

Andrea Tynmes an art student has used pictures she shot of the lighting used at various Amy Winehouse gigs as inspiration for her paintings. Her work will be exhibited alongside Webb’s mirror light box of Amy’s face, which glows bright red at night and is to be donated to the songstress after the show.
Nominee for the Garden Photographer of the Year award, Liz Murfitt has contributed photograms to light the corridors and stairwells while Silvui Pascal’s short film will offer a child’s eye view of the speed of light and movement.

SARA NEWMAN

• Illumini, curated by Jane Webb, opens September 4 and runs until September 17 at The Crypt, St Pancras Church, Euston Road. Open daily 11am-7pm free admission.

London for free: Illumini

Sunday, September 7, 2008

The dark recesses of the St Pancras Church Crypt will be lit up by the group exhibition Illumini over the next two weeks. Amid the illuminated photography and paintings, keep an eye out for glowing sculptural works by Jane Webb – who creates installations using recycled computer and electronic components – and Suzan Swale’s neon signs.

Until Sep 17, St Pancras Church Crypt, Euston Road (entrance via Duke’s Road) NW1, daily 11am to 7pm. www.stpancraschurch.org Tube: Euston

Illumini

• Until Sep 17 Critics’ Choice FREE
• St Pancras Church , The Crypt, entrance on Duke’s Rd, London, NW1 2BA

• Set in an atmospheric location of abandoned corridors and recessed nooks, this exhibition brings together photographs, paintings and sculpture that explore light, by artists including Jane Webb and Andrea Tirimos . The publicly accessible opening night on Thursday features light shows, circus acts and performance artists working with illumination.

• Details
• St Pancras Church , The Crypt, entrance on Duke’s Rd, London, NW1 2BA , UK Geo: 51.527079, -0.130164
• www.illuminievent.co.uk
• Category: Exhibitions
• Times: Thur 6-9pm, thereafter daily 11am-7pm
• Tube: Euston

……comments

1. Posted by Jude on 12 Sep 2008 00:26

………Was slightly freaked out because of the venue but it definitely good anyhow……….2. Posted by Vicki on 04 Sep 2008 10:27

……….Not to be missed!

Sponsors for Illumini Event 2008

Illumini would like to thank all of our kind business supporters, volunteers and stewards for the Illumini 2008 Event, with out you this would not of been possible.

Dot productions are a creative team of fabric designers and printers, which print onto any material or specialised fabrics. This unique company are big supporters of Illumini and have kindly supplied promotional clothing for this event. wwww.dotproductions.co.uk

Glowsafe have supported and worked alongside Illumini and are the supplier of El panel technology displayed at the event. www.glowsafe.com

Mathmos have teamed up with Illumini and will be displaying an exciting range of products at this years Illumini event. www.mathmos.com

Surelight works alongside artists, designers and architects with their electro luminescent products and they have kindly supported illumini and have provided all El Wire used in this event. www.surelight.com

The Glass bar have an ongoing interest in the arts,with their own community events for woman and have kindly donated and supported Illumini . www.theglassbar.org.uk

Waitrose a high quality well known supermarket of food and wines, are kindly supporting Illumini. www.waitrose.com

Gallery Illumini 2008

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